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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

VALE Frank Whitecross: My First Music Teacher

Sadness showed it's way in a calm sense of peace yesterday. It was the peace that comes from knowing that someone who has meant so much to me has finally found peace and has met his beloved heavenly father.


Many years ago, in fact over 25 years ago now, Frank or Mr Whitecross as we all called him, sat with me and my cornet and patiently taught me the lines and spaces of notation, the length of notes and the language that has become more important to me than English itself. This language has allowed me to express way more of my thoughts than the thousands of English words that are in my vocabulary could never do.


I have known that this day would come and I think that for a long time I have thought about the struggle for Mr Whitecross for the last few years and his wonderful amazing wife Shirley and family.


I want to give you an insight of just what he meant to me in those early years and what he will mean to me for my future.


When I was a boy, he saw in me potential. He called me Duck. One of the few people that would get away with calling me that. I loved the way that he did so with a smile and his passion and patience showed me about how you could teach and also smile when things didn't always work. His first lesson to me off the instrument was when he said to me "Duck whatever you play, always play for God". Those words would serve me well into my later music life as I searched for meaning in what I did and also how I would decide what to play and what not to play.


He was Humble! I mean super humble. I never heard him ask for recognition. He avoided it. He didn't need the recognition because he had something more valuable. God's Favour and most of all the respect of 100's of people who he had either worked with or taught how to play.


He led the Mildura Salvation Army band for over 25 years. I think it may be officially 26 but that is as long as I have been playing and since then, we have had 3 other conductors. I'm the current one (third) and as the band gets smaller those memories of how he crafted the band still resonate with everyone. I first joined the senior band on 2nd Cornet and sat next to some amazing people under Mr Whitecross' Baton. This was doubled by still learning the music and playing solos with the band and by myself. My first solo was a peace called Prepare me. It was a simple song but we worked on it until it was ready and when I stood to play it as a very young boy at the Sunday School Anniversary, Mr Whitecross stood behind me and calmed my nerves, told me I could do it and stood there whilst I played those first notes. That moment started a journey that has not stopped and has taken me all over the world.


He wrote solos, gave up time and most of all continued to encouraged me on my journey long after he retired from Conducting.


He also had a prank side and carols was one of those unique opportunities to let them fly. I will never forget cruising around Mildura in the back of a dump truck playing to many many people. We would climb the ladder and cruise playing out of the green carol books in a green truck (red was the original one I believe) for hours and on the odd occasion hang on as the dumper would start lifting (as you do).


He played a beautiful Euphonium but never wanted to be the spotlight and would just play his part and let the world appreciate others for their amazing technique. He was not a teach because he can't do person, because he made a choice to let others shine.


What does it mean to me now.
Mr Whitecross has been on my mind ever since I launched into my career. Those simple words of 'Always play for God' have sometimes been lost in the words of the world, but I always come back to that simple phrase. Life was not easy in the last few years and Seeing Frank tap or conduct to my playing always brought a smile to my face. I never really spent as much time as I would of loved to with him, but illness took a hold of him and life took a hold of me. They say that in life you meet people that truly inspire you to be a better person. I will never be able to express in words what Mr Whitecross really meant to me. This is hugely because there are no words. He started me on a journey and saw potential. He made making music and playing an enjoyable lesson on the wider part of life and what it meant to be a person of integrity and honour to the gifts that are given to us by God.


I have been blessed to meet a person who is much as a hero to me as any prominent person that I have had the fortune to met.


Mr Whitecross is a true legend of humbleness and he's legacy to me is that it's not about the notes on a page but the passion and reason for playing.


I took a moment last night to listen to some of the old hymns that we used to play as a junior band. Some of those hymns; I am Praying, I surrender all, My Saviours Love, Europe, Peace Perfect Peace, Toplady, Rock of Ages, Amazing Grace and many others took me back and in reflection, mean more to me now than back then. So I will leave you with this thought.


A person who gives up their spotlight for others to shine is a brighter light than anything else because they allow their light to light the path for others to find the fuse.


Mr Frank Whitecross you were Promoted to Glory and have left this world. I know that when you reach the gates, they will open, you will be called and you will hear the immortal words; Go forth good and faithful servant. You are now at rest!